#626 | The Strange Story of Punch and Judy
English Learning for Curious Minds | A More Interesting Way To Learn English

#626 | The Strange Story of Punch and Judy

B2Upper-intermediateAugust 13, 202625 min
  • Arts & culture

He wears a red hat, carries a stick, and laughs as he beats almost everyone he meets. This episode tells the odd, violent story of Punch and Judy, the puppet show that began in Italy and became a British seaside symbol. It looks at how Mr Punch survived for over 300 years, and why many now question whether he still belongs on the beach. The swazzle and Mr Punch's strange squeaky voice Italian street theatre origins and Pulcinella Arrival in London in 1662 with Samuel Pepys From marionettes to glove pupp...

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B2 · Upper-intermediate

Comfortable if you already follow TV news

A1 28%A2 40%B1 24%B2 7%C1 1%
  • 92% of the words are B1 or easier.
  • 132 words a minute: a natural pace.
  • 82 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.

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0:00

Hello, hello, hello, and welcome to English Learning for Curious Minds by Leonardo English, the show where you can listen to fascinating stories and learn weird and wonderful things about the world at the same time as improving your English. I'm Alastair Budge and today it's the start of another three-part mini-series, this

0:28

time on unusual British traditions. In today's episode, part one, we are going to be talking about Punch and Judy, the strange, violent and originally Italian puppet show that became one of Britain's best known seaside traditions. In part two, we turn to fox hunting, a very different type of tradition that is technically illegal but still goes on up and down the

0:56

country. And in part 3, we are going to be talking about the rise and fall of the British Seaside holiday. Like all of our miniseries, parts 2 and 3 will be member-only episodes, so now is my time to briefly remind you that if those sound like fun, now might be the time to check out our membership. Membership of Leonardo English gives you access to more

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